Poe: To One In Paradise

A poem.

Publisher’s Note: If you missed the news, I’m leaving Substack and closing down Edgar Allan Poe Fortnightly at the end of the month. This week, please enjoy a handful of poems that I haven’t shared yet.

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To One In Paradise

Edgar Allan Poe

First published in 1834

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Thou wast that all to me, love,
        For which my soul did pine—
A green isle in the sea, love,
        A fountain and a shrine,
All wreathed with fairy fruits and flowers,
        And all the flowers were mine.

Ah, dream too bright to last!
        Ah, starry Hope! that didst arise
But to be overcast!
        A voice from out the Future cries,
“On! on!”—but o’er the Past
        (Dim gulf!) my spirit hovering lies
Mute, motionless, aghast!

For, alas! alas! with me
        The light of Life is o’er!
        "No more—no more—no more—"
(Such language holds the solemn sea
        To the sands upon the shore)
Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree,
        Or the stricken eagle soar!

And all my days are trances,
        And all my nightly dreams
Are where thy grey eye glances,
        And where thy footstep gleams—
In what ethereal dances,
        By what eternal streams.

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The Final Month of Edgar Allan Poe Fortnightly:

This week: a selection of poems.

The week of 01/22: The Purloined Letter

01/29: a final poem.

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